72 VEGECtLTURE 



now be quite exhausted, seeing that no manure was applied in 

 the spring on account of its utilization for root-crops. When the 

 surface soil has been thoroughly well manured, and dug, the 

 ground may be considered, with the exception of one thing, 

 to be in a fit condition to receive the young Cabbage plants. 

 This one matter the consolidation of the soil affects the 

 success of the whole operation. When the lifting power of 

 frost, the destructive force of strong winds, and the disintegrat- 

 ing effect on the soil of heavy rains are taken into consideration, 

 it becomes apparent that a strong foothold is most imperative 

 to any plant that has to undergo wintry conditions ; and the 

 only way to secure this is by planting in ground that has been 

 very much consolidated for Cabbages, .indeed, the earth should 

 be rammed so hard that only an instrument on the lines of a 

 crowbar will make a hole of suitable size for the reception of 

 the roots ! The harder the surface is, in fact, the sturdier will 

 the plants become, with short, woody stems that are certain 

 to defy the severest frosts. These are the plants that will 

 delight the gardener early in the following spring, for as soon 

 as a rise of temperature begins to make itself felt, the Cabbages 

 will quickly respond to the congenial influences of a warmer 

 atmosphere acting upon a winter-bound soil, with the result 

 that, very soon, presentable little heads of Cabbage, will be 

 ready for the cook. To aid such an event, let the gardener 

 give all the assistance in his power to his plants, by cultivation 

 especially, when the state of the ground permits: opening up 

 the hard soil to the beneficent action of sun and air, by forking 

 between the rows, hoeing around the plants in their immediate 

 vicinity especially after an occasional light application of 

 nitrate of soda ; these, and other little attentions, will be appre- 

 ciated by the plants, and will be productive of good results. 



So far as the generality of Cabbages are concerned, the pro- 

 cedure is not so exacting, although similar, consisting chiefly 

 in sowing seeds of varieties calculated to mature at the period 

 they will be required, allowing plenty of room to each seedling 

 plant, keeping the seed-beds moist, transplanting, and, finally, 

 planting out. One of the most prolific causes of partial or utter 

 failure in Cabbage culture is the use of overgrown or deformed 

 plants, the results of lack of growing space allotted to seedlings ; 

 therefore, the beds should be thinned early and drastically, 

 the plants withdrawn therefrom being replanted elsewhere to 

 provide stop-gaps, to replace failures, and perhaps to make a 

 few additional rows. Never throw away a really good plant 



